S.Amdt. 5874

This amendment aims to add a section to bill S. 4784 to create the TBI Innovation Grant Program through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The purpose of this program is to provide grants to eligible entities to develop, implement, and evaluate neurorehabilitation treatments for veterans with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Key details of the program include:

• Purpose of Funds: Grants will support the design of patient-centered and non-pharmacological treatments, clinical studies to improve mental health and reduce suicidality, clinician training, and the creation of partnerships between the Department, academic institutions, and community organizations.
• Grant Limits and Priority: The Secretary cannot award more than $5,000,000 per fiscal year to a single entity. Priority is given to entities with demonstrated experience in researching or delivering mTBI treatments.
• Eligible Entities: Grants can be awarded to nonprofit organizations, academic institutions researching TBI, non-Department health care providers with neurorehabilitative expertise, or other entities the Secretary deems appropriate.
• Duration and Funding: The program is set to last for three years starting from the date of enactment. It is authorized for $30,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, though the Secretary may also use funds from general mental health care programs.
• Accountability: The amendment requires annual reports from grant recipients, annual evaluations of the program's efficacy by the Secretary, and reports to Congress regarding findings and policy recommendations.